Cocoa beans are being smuggled out of Ivory Coast—the world’s top cocoa producer—by farmers and traders trying to dodge government price controls and sell at higher rates in neighboring countries. A new video investigation reveals how porous borders and corruption enable this black-market trade, which is squeezing local supplies and hurting the economy.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about smuggling—it’s a symptom of deeper issues in the cocoa industry. Farmers are taking big risks because they feel cheated by fixed prices, while the government loses tax revenue. For chocolate lovers, it could mean higher prices down the line. But more importantly, it shows how fragile the global cocoa supply chain really is.